Andy Murray has rarely faced his once great rivals Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in recent years; Nadal returns to action after a year out with injury; watch Murray face Grigor Dimitrov at Brisbane International live on Sky Sports on New Year's Day from 8.30am UK time
Monday 1 January 2024 08:53, UK
Andy Murray says he has missed the feeling of playing against rivals Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal but remains hopeful of facing the pair in the latter stages of "big tournaments".
Nadal, who is making his return to competitive action - after almost a full year out with injury - at the Brisbane International, live on Sky Sports, has not faced Murray since 2016.
Murray, who is also playing in Brisbane and will face Grigor Dimitrov from 8.30am on New Year's Day live on Sky Sports, has come back from multiple lengthy injury absences of his own since then to return to the world's top 50, but has faced world No 1 Djokovic only once since 2017.
"Obviously I would like the opportunity to play against them again, ideally in the latter stages of big tournaments," Murray said in his pre-tournament press conference.
"That's something that, you know, obviously I've missed that that feeling and not had that opportunity really. I can't remember the last time I played them, to be honest."
The last of Murray's 36 tour-level meetings with Djokovic came at the 2022 Madrid Masters, while the most recent of his 24 clashes with Nadal was at the same tournament in 2016.
Murray - who won just two matches in his final five tournaments of 2023 - also spoke to the BBC about whether 2024 will be his last on the ATP Tour, saying: "If I was in a situation like I was at the end of last year, then I probably wouldn't go again.
"But if physically I'm doing well and my results are good and I'm playing well, then that's enjoyable and I could see myself still playing.
"We'll see how the year goes, see how the body holds up. If things are going well, I'd love to keep going. But if they're not, and I'm not enjoying it, it could be the last year, yes."
Murray will begin his Brisbane campaign against No 2 seed Dimitrov.
"It'll be a good match," the 36-year-old Murray said.
"Grigor had a brilliant season last season. I played against him at the US Open and he won comfortably, so I'll need to play really well, certainly much better than there if I want to get through it."
The Brisbane International is live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Mix this week - watch Murray face Grigor Dimitrov live on Sky Sports on New Year's Day from 8.30am UK time
